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Recalibrating Digital Jurisprudence: Legislative and Judicial Trajectories of Information Technology Law in India in 2022

Patel, S. A. (2023). Recalibrating Digital Jurisprudence: Legislative and Judicial Trajectories of Information Technology Law in India in 2022. https://doi.org/10.26643/jsmap/2023/12/1

Sajid A. Patel

Assistant Professor in Mercantile Law,

D.A.V. Velankar College of Commerce, Solapur

sajid123490@gmail.com

Abstract

The intersection of information technology and law in India has become increasingly significant in the wake of rapid digitalization. The year 2022 marked a critical juncture, with legislative amendments, judicial innovations, and policy debates shaping the contours of India’s digital governance framework. This paper examines the evolution of law relating to Information and Technology in India during in the form of an amendment in 2022, focusing on statutory amendments, judicial responses, and emerging challenges in cyber regulation.

Keywords: Digital Jurisprudence, Information Technology Law, Information Technology Act, 2000, Intermediary Liability, Data Protection, Digital Privacy, Cyber Governance.

Introduction

India’s legal framework has long struggled to strike an equilibrium between fostering technological progress and ensuring adequate regulatory safeguards. The Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act) emerged as the foundational statute for governing cyberspace, yet the rapid proliferation of digital platforms, the exponential expansion of data exchanges, and the surge in online commercial activity soon revealed its limitations. These developments created an urgent need for reform to address new forms of cyber threats and digital complexities. In response, 2022 witnessed significant parliamentary initiatives aimed at fortifying provisions against cybercrime, while the judiciary simultaneously embraced digital tools and platforms to streamline processes, enhance accessibility, and improve overall efficiency in the administration of justice.

Background

India’s legal system has historically grappled with the delicate task of balancing technological innovation with regulatory safeguards, a tension that has only intensified in the digital age. The enactment of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act) was a landmark moment, establishing the first comprehensive framework for addressing cybercrimes, electronic commerce, and digital authentication. Yet, the exponential growth of digital platforms, the proliferation of cross border data flows, and increased online transactions have exposed gaps in the original statute. The IT Act, conceived at the dawn of India’s internet revolution, was not designed to anticipate the complexities of artificial intelligence, algorithmic governance, or the challenges of protecting personal data in a globalized digital economy. By 2022, these pressures had reached a critical point. The Indian Parliament introduced amendments aimed at strengthening cybercrime provisions, expanding definitions to encompass emerging technologies, and enhancing penalties for offenses such as identity theft, online fraud, and child exploitation in cyberspace. These legislative efforts reflected a recognition that cyber threats were no longer confined to isolated incidents but had evolved into systemic risks capable of undermining national security, financial stability, and individual rights. At the same time, the judiciary began to rely more extensively on digital tools to enhance efficiency and accessibility. The Supreme Court and several High Courts institutionalized hybrid hearings, integrating virtual platforms into routine judicial practice. This digital transformation of the courts was not merely a response to pandemic exigencies but a structural innovation aimed at reducing backlog, democratizing access to justice, and aligning India’s judicial system with global trends in e-governance.

However, these developments also raised profound constitutional and policy questions. How should India reconcile the imperatives of cyber security with the fundamental right to privacy recognized in Justice K.A. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (AIR 2017 SC 4161); to what extent should regulatory frameworks impose obligations on intermediaries and digital platforms without stifling innovation?; and how can judicial reliance on technology avoid exacerbating the digital divide, particularly for marginalized communities with limited access to digital infrastructure? The year 2022 thus marked a pivotal juncture in India’s cyber law trajectory one in which legislative ambition and judicial innovation converged, but also revealed the enduring challenges of crafting a digital legal order that is both effective and equitable.

Legislative Developments in 2022

Information Technology Act, 2000 was amended in the year 2022 by Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2022 which came to be applied form 28th October 2022 so as to include new provisions in following manner

  1. Definition of Intermediary expanded (Section 2): – The scope of definition of “Intermediary” has been increased to include online gaming platforms and certain digital media services. By expanding the scope of definition, the law encompasses new categories of digital actors, ensuring they fall under the regulatory net.
  2. Exemption from Liability of Intermediary (Section 79):- By new Amendment Act, 2022 intermediaries retain conditional immunity from liability, but only if they comply with due diligence obligations under the amended rules. Platforms must act on user complaints within strict timelines which is prescribed 24 hours for acknowledgement and 15 days to resolve the complaint. This amendment shifts the balance toward conditional responsibility, reinforcing accountability from broad immunity.
  3. Grievance Redressal Mechanism (Section 79 (2) and Amendment Rules 2022):- For redressal of grievance relating to Intermediary under the Information Technology Act Grievance Officer is to be appointed by intermediary. Establishment of Grievance Appellate Committees under government oversight has also been prescribed. By virtue of this provision a quasi-judicial oversight structure under state authority upon private platform governance has been established.
  4. Due Diligence Required (Section 79 (3)):- Now Platforms will have to proactively monitor unlawful content, publish compliance reports, and provide clear user complaint mechanisms. This provision is in tune with European Union’s Digital Services Act.
  5. Cheating by Personation Using Computer Resources (Section 66 D):- By the Amendment Rules 2022 intermediary obligations has been extended to prevent impersonation and fraud in gaming environments.
  6. Compensation for Failure to Protect Data (Section 43-A):- Intermediaries have been made responsible to compensate for their failure to protect the data.
  7.  Monitoring and Collection of Traffic Data (Section 69 B):-The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, authorize any agency to monitor and collect traffic data or information generated, transmitted, received, or stored in any computer resource. Any intermediary or person in charge of a computer resource must provide technical assistance and facilities to the authorized agency for online access or securing such data. The object of this provision is to enhance cyber security, identifying and preventing intrusions, and stopping the spread of computer contaminants.
  8. Cyber Terrorism (Section 66 F):- This provision was proposed to criminalize acts of cyber terrorism, including unauthorized access to computer resources with intent to threaten national security or disrupt essential services. It broadened the scope beyond hacking to cover coordinated cyber-attacks on infrastructure.
  9. Identity Theft and Fraudulent Digital Practices (Section 66 G):- The Amendment Act, 2022 prohibits identity theft in digital transactions, including misuse of biometric data, Aadhaar-linked services, and online banking credentials. It recognized the growing problem of impersonation in e-commerce and fintech platforms.
  10. Protection of Children (Section 67 B):- The Amendment Act, 2022 prohibits publishing or transmitting sexually explicit material involving children. The amendment emphasized stricter penalties and expanded definitions to include grooming and online solicitation.
  11. Emerging Digital Harm (Section 67 BA):- The Amendment Act, 2022 encompasses new categories of newly invented harmful online content, such as deep fakes, synthetic media, and digitally manipulated obscene material.

Reforms in Judicial and Institutional Developments

            By virtue of Amendments made in the year 2022 judicial and institutional developments have been reformed.

  1. Digitalization of Courts:- In 2022 the judiciary accelerated through e-filing, online cause lists, and virtual hearings. The Supreme Court institutionalized hybrid hearings, balancing physical and digital participation.
  2. Online Dispute Resolution:- Particular types of disputes like Consumer disputes, small claims, and fintech-related grievances are increasingly moved to Online Dispute Resolution platforms, reducing backlog and improving efficiency.
  3. Use of Artificial Intelligence in legal research:- A.I. tools and techniques have been started to be used to help courts and law man in solving the cases.

Challenges Ahead

  1. The amendments allow government officials to order the removal of online content within very short periods, sometimes as little as two to three hours in urgent cases. This has raised worries that such broad powers, without proper judicial checks, could weaken fair legal procedures and constitutional protections.
  2. Social media sites, messaging apps, and other online platforms are under heavy pressure to meet strict deadlines prescribed under the law. Smaller platforms especially struggle because they don’t have the technical systems needed to act so quickly, which makes compliance difficult and increases the chance of content being removed unfairly.
  3. To avoid being penalized, online platforms often play it safe by removing content even when it’s unclear whether it is actually illegal. This can end up silencing genuine speech, discouraging people from freely expressing themselves, and weakening healthy democratic discussion.
  4. When government officers issue a “reasoned intimation” to flag content, the process is not fully open or clear. People and platforms often don’t understand why certain content is targeted, and since there is no strong system for appeal or review, accountability becomes weak.
  5. Words like “harmful,” “unlawful,” or “misinformation” are not clearly defined. Because of this vagueness, authorities have wide freedom in how they enforce the rules, which can be misused for political or ideological reasons.
  6. The amendments raise important constitutional concerns under Article 19(1) (a), which protects freedom of speech and expression. Courts have earlier stressed that any restrictions must be necessary and proportionate, but these new rules may not fully meet those standards.
  7. Online platforms must appoint grievance officers and quickly handle user complaints. But because there are so many complaints and no clear system to decide which ones should be addressed first, this becomes difficult, leading to inefficiency and chances of misuse.
  8. Global online platforms working in India face conflicting rules between Indian law and international standards, such as Europe’s GDPR. This makes compliance complicated and could discourage investment and innovation in India’s digital sector.
  9. Even after much discussion, a full Data Protection Act was not passed in 2022, which left personal data exposed and unprotected.
  10. Concerns grew about the use of opaque algorithms in areas like fintech, hiring, and law enforcement, as they raised doubts about fairness and accountability.

Conclusion

The year 2022 marked a turning point in India’s information technology law and digital governance framework. On one hand, legislative amendments to the IT Act reflected the government’s intent to modernize outdated provisions and respond to the rapid growth of digital platforms. On the other, judicial institutions began embracing digitalization, signalling a broader transformation in how justice and governance interact with technology. These developments highlight India’s recognition of the digital sphere as central to its socio-economic future. Yet, despite these important steps, several challenges remain unresolved. The absence of a comprehensive Data Protection Act left personal data exposed, raising serious concerns about privacy and individual rights. Cyber security threats continued to evolve in complexity, testing the resilience of India’s digital infrastructure. At the same time, issues of equitable access persisted, with rural and marginalized communities often excluded from the benefits of digital transformation. The reliance on opaque algorithms in areas such as fintech, recruitment, and law enforcement further raised questions of fairness, accountability, and transparency. These gaps underscore the urgent need for a holistic, rights-based approach to digital governance. Future reforms must not only encourage innovation and technological growth but also embed constitutional safeguards to protect freedom of speech, privacy, and equality. A balanced framework is essential one that promotes efficiency and modernization while ensuring that democratic values are not compromised.

India’s digital journey is at a crossroads. The choices made in the coming years will determine whether technological progress serves only a privileged few or becomes a tool for inclusive and just development. By aligning innovation with constitutional principles, India can build a digital ecosystem that is secure, transparent, and accessible to all, thereby ensuring that its digital transformation strengthens democracy rather than undermines it.

References

Aishwarya Agrawal, How Technology is Changing Law in India, Law Bhoomi (2022).

Bar & Bench, Judicial Innovations in Virtual Hearings (2022).

Derek RSN, Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2023 – Definitions Expansion (2023).

Internet Freedom Foundation, Analysis of IT Rules and Amendments (2022).

Juned, Brief Summary of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (2022).

Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Cybersecurity Breach Reports (2022).

NITI Aayog, Responsible AI for All: Strategy Paper (2022).

Press Information Bureau, Cybercrime Against Women – IT Act Provisions (2022).

Supreme Court of India, Annual Report on E-Courts Project (2022).

Yadul Krishna, New Technology Laws Raise Old Concerns, Times of India (2022).

https://analyticsindiamag.com/ai-features/indias-new-it-act-amendments-reopen-an-unsettled-debate

Click to access IT-Act-Amendment_Online-28-MAR-23.pdf

https://analyticsindiamag.com/ai-features/indias-new-it-act-amendments-reopen-an-unsettled-debate

Click to access IT-Act-Amendment_Online-28-MAR-23.pdf

https://broadbandindiaforum.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IT-Act Amendment_Online-28-MAR-23.pdf

HFSP Research Grant Program

The HFSP Research Grant Program stands out for its distinctive features that prioritize innovative basic research with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and international scientific exchange. By fostering novel approaches and encouraging scientists from diverse disciplines to work together, HFSP aims to address fundamental biological questions that transcend traditional boundaries. Here are the distinguishing features of the HFSP Research Grant Program:

1. Interdisciplinary Approach:

HFSP Research Grants promote interdisciplinary collaboration by actively encouraging the participation of scientists from fields beyond traditional life sciences. This includes but is not limited to disciplines such as biophysics, chemistry, computational biology, computer science, engineering, mathematics, nanoscience, and physics. The program recognizes that innovative solutions often emerge from the convergence of diverse scientific perspectives.

2. International Collaboration:

The program facilitates international scientific collaborations by supporting teams of researchers from different countries. This emphasis on global collaboration aims to leverage the collective expertise of scientists from various cultural and academic backgrounds. The inclusion of international perspectives enhances the potential for groundbreaking discoveries and insights.

3. Innovative Research Focus:

HFSP Research Grants prioritize innovative research with a focus on addressing fundamental biological problems. Unlike some grant programs, preliminary results are not a prerequisite for application. Instead, applicants are expected to develop new lines of research through collaborative efforts, promoting exploration into uncharted territories of scientific inquiry.

4. Risk-Taking Culture:

The program acknowledges the inherent risks associated with pioneering research and encourages applicants to explicitly address these risks in their proposals. HFSP expects research teams to outline mitigation strategies for potential failures while emphasizing how they intend to achieve their research goals. This risk-taking approach fosters a culture of scientific exploration and resilience.

5. Exclusion of Applied Research:

The HFSP Research Grant Program explicitly excludes applications for applied research, especially those typically funded by national medical research bodies. This focus on basic research aligns with the program’s commitment to supporting projects that contribute to a deeper understanding of the fundamental aspects of living organisms and their interactions.

6. Two Types of Grants:

HFSP offers two distinct types of grants: Research Grants – Early Career and Research Grants – Program. The former is designed for team members with doctoral degrees who lead their own research groups, while the latter targets teams of independent researchers at any stage of their careers. Both grant types provide three years of support for 2 to 4 member teams, with fixed sums dependent on team size.

7. Support for Career Development:

The Research Grants – Early Career are specifically aimed at individuals directing research groups and seeking to develop independent lines of research. While HFSP does not intend to create scientific independence through these awards, it recognizes the importance of supporting early-career scientists in building their research careers.

In conclusion, the HFSP Research Grant Program’s distinguishing features reflect a commitment to fostering innovation, international collaboration, and interdisciplinary research. By encouraging risk-taking and providing support for teams with diverse expertise, the program contributes to advancing our understanding of complex biological phenomena and promotes excellence in scientific exploration.

Distinguishing Features of the HFSP Research Grant Program
HFSP Research Grants support innovative basic research into fundamental biological problems with emphasis placed on novel and interdisciplinary approaches that involve scientific exchanges across national and disciplinary boundaries (see guidelines).
Participation of scientists from disciplines outside the traditional life sciences such as biophysics, chemistry, computational biology, computer science, engineering, mathematics, nanoscience or physics is recommended because such collaborations have opened up new approaches for understanding the complex structures and regulatory networks that characterize living organisms, their evolution and interactions.
Research grants are provided for teams of scientists from different countries who wish to combine their expertise in innovative approaches to questions that could not be answered by individual laboratories. Preliminary results are not required and applicants are expected to develop new lines of research through the research collaboration.
It is understood that such research inherently contains risks and HFSP expects that teams of applicants address the risks and outline mitigation strategies for their research in case of failure and how they intend to achieve their goals.
Applications for applied research, including medical research typically funded by national medical research bodies, will be deemed ineligible (see guidelines).
Two types of Grant are available: Research Grants – Early Career and Research Grants – Program.
Research Grants – Early Career*
All team members are expected to direct a research group (however small) and must have a doctoral degree (PhD, MD or equivalent). They must be in a position to initiate and direct their own independent lines of research. The HFSP award is not intended to create scientific independence, this is a decision of the research institute prior to the application.
Research Grants – Program
Awarded to teams of independent researchers at any stage of their careers. The research team is expected to develop new lines of research through the collaboration. Applications including independent investigators early in their careers are encouraged.
Both provide three years support for 2 – 4 member teams.
Awards are fixed sums dependent upon team size.

Dr. Nalla Bala Kalyan

Name of Scholar: Dr. Nalla Bala Kalyan
Brief About Scholar:
Name of Institution: Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, (Autonomous), Karakambadi Road, Tirupati
Published Research Papers: Research Paper Entitled “Jeopardy and Arrival Analysis of Certain Cement Securities in India”, Published in International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology Vol. 29, No. 5, (2020), pp. 3806-3820, ISSN: 2005-4238 IJAST, Indexed by Scopus. Research Paper Entitled “Competitive Performance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in India”, published in Asian Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. III (1), pp.128-146, Jan-June, 2011, ISSN: 0975-5942, Citations: 33. Research Paper Entitled “Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the 21st Century”, Published in Zenith International Journal of Business Economics & Management Research, Vol.2 Issue 5, pp.23-38, May, 2012, *UGC Approved Journal, ISSN: 2249 8826, Cita tions: 28. Research Paper Entitled “A Comparative Study on Risk & Return Analysis of Selected Stocks in India”, published in International Journal of Management and Economics Invention, Volume 04, Issue 05, May 2018, pp.1730-1736, ISSN: 2395-7220, Citations: 16. Research Paper Entitled “A Study on Risk & Return Analysis of Selected Securities in India”, published in International Journal of Engineering Technologies and Management Research, 5(4), 79-86, April 2018, Citations: 11. Research Paper Entitled “Sickness of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in India”, Published in International Journal of Business Management & Economic Research, Vol. 2 (6), pp.345-351, Nov-Dec, 2011, ISSN: 2229-6247, Citations: 10 Research Paper Entitled “A Study on Risk & Return Analysis of the Selected Mutual Funds Schemes in India”, published in International Journal of Research in Social Sciences, Vol. 8 Issue 5, May 2018, pp.212-221, ISSN: 2249-2496, *UGC Approved Journal, Citation s:9 Research Paper Entitled “Inventory Management Pattern of Steel Industry in India”, published in Organizations& Markets: Policies& Processes e journal, Vol.6, No.62, May, 2020, ISSN: 1556-5068, Citations: 6. Research Paper Entitled “Banking Sector Reforms in India”, Published in International Journal of Management and Humanities Research Script, Volume 4, Issue 4, December, 2017, pp.13-18, ISSN: 2349-7289, Citations: 7. Research Paper Entitled “Evaluation of Portfolio Analysis on Selected Securities of NSE in India”, Published in International Journal of Applied Engineering Research, Volume 14, Number 4 (2019) pp. 859-868, Research India Publications, ISSN 0973-4562, , UGC Approved Journal, Citations: 5. Research Paper Entitled “Marketing Strategies and Problems of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Andhra Pradesh”, published in TIJ’s Research journal of Economics and Business Studies, Volume; 01, Number: 02, pp.58-65, December, 2011, *UGC Approved Journal , ISSN: 2251-1555, Citations: 4. Research Paper Entitled “A Case Study on Benefits for Quality of Work Life to Employees and Organizations in India”, published by (Iconic Research and Engineering Journals) IRE Journals, Volume 3, Issue 6, Dec 2019, ISSN: 2456-8880, Citations: 3. Research Paper Entitled “Problems and Prospects of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Chittoor District”, Published in Abhinav National Journal of Research in Commerce & Management, Volume 6, Issue 10, pp.113-119, October, 2017, *UGC Approved Journal, ISSN-2277-1166, Citations: 3. Research Paper Entitled “Features of Entrepreneurship in India”, Published in “International Journal of Research” Volume 5, Issue1, pp.3752-3759, January 2018, IF: 5.60, *UGC Approved Journal, ISSN: 2348-6848, Citations: 2. Research Paper Entitled “Employment and Unemployment in India”, Published in Bookman International Journal of Accounts & Business Management, Vol.1 No.1, pp.1-6, September 2012, ISSN: 2319-426X, Citations: 2. Research Paper Entitled “A Study on Financial Derivatives With reference to Tata Motors Limited, Chittoor District of AP, India”, published in Global Journal for Research Analysis, Vol. 7, Issue-4, April-2018, pp.430-433, ISSN:2277 — 8160, Citations: 2. Research Paper Entitled “An Empirical Study on Development of the MSME Sector in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India”, Information Systems e journal, Vol.3, No.48, May1, 2020, ISSN: 1556-5068, SSRN Elsevier, Citations: 2 Research Paper Entitled “Ergonomics at Work Environment in India”, published in Applied & Practicing Anthropology e Journal, Vol. 4, No. 28: Apr 16, 2019, ISSN:1556-5068, SSRN Elsevier, Citations: 1. Research Paper Entitled “An Experiential Examination of Financial Performance of Foremost Power Segment Organization — APSPDCL”, published in Energy Policy and Economics e Journal, Vol.3, No.19: July 27, 2020, ISSN:1556-5068, SSRN Elsevier, Citations:1 Research Pa per Entitled “Magnification and Performance of Various Derivatives in India”, Published by Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR), July 2021, Volume 8, Issue 7, ISSN-2349-5162, UGC Approved Journal no 63975, Citations:1. Indexed by Google Scholar Research Paper Entitled “A Study on Performance of SBI Blue Chip Fund at SBI Mutual Funds in India” Published in “International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology”, Volume3, Issue6, pp.44-53, November, 2017, ISSN: 2454-132X Research Paper Entitled “Performance of Selected Stocks in Old Generation Private Sector Banks in India” published in International Journal of Management (IJM), Volume 9, Issue 2, March—April 2018, pp. 43—55, ISSN:0976-6510 Research Paper Entitled “Recital Assessment of Selected Balanced Funds of Various Companies in India” Published in IOSR Journal of Business and Management, Volume 19, Issue 11, pp.74-80, November, 2017, ISSN: 227 8-487X Research Paper Entitled “Macroeconomic Factors Influence on Stock Exchange in India” Published in International Journal for Science and Advance Research in Technology, Vol.4, Issue 6, pp.696-701, June 2018, ISSN:2395-1052 Research Paper Entitled “A Study on Performance Appraisal System in Service Sector Organizations in India” Published in “International Journal of Research in Computer Application& Management” Vol.8, Issue No.1, pp.20-24, January, 2018, ISSN: 2231-1009 Research Paper Entitled “A Study on Working Culture of Ergonomics in India” Published by International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology, April 2019, Volume 5 Issue 11, ISSN: 2349-6002 Research Paper Entitled “A Study on Employment Trends in India” Published in “Global Advanced Research Journal of Management and Business Studies”, Vol.1 (6), pp.173-180, July, 2012, ISSN: 2315-5086 Research Paper Entitled “A Study on Factors Influencing Brand Switching in Telecom Industr y in India” Published in International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science, Volume VII, Issue IX, September 2018, ISSN 2278-2540 Research Paper Entitled “A Study on Leadership Styles Adopted at V-Trans in India” Published in International Journal of Engineering and Management Research, Volume-8, Issue-6, December 2018, 135-141, ISSN: 2250-0758 Research Paper Entitled “Analysis of Financial Statement of NRC Agro with Special Reference to Goods and Service Tax” Published in IJSRST, Volume 6, Issue 1, ISSN: 2395-602X Research Paper Entitled “A Study on Competency Mapping at BGR Energy in India” Published by International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development, Volume2 Issue 2, Mar —Apr 2019, ISSN: 2581-7175 Research Paper Entitled “Competitive Performance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in India” Published in “Asian Journal of Social Sciences”, Vol. III (1), pp.128-146, Jan-June, 2011, ISSN: 0975-5942 Research Paper Entitled “A Study on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in India” Published in “IRE Journals, Volume 1, Issue 7, pp.1-5, January, 2018, ISSN: 2456-8880 Research Paper Entitled “Marketing Management for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in India” published in Journal of Research, Extension and Development, Vol.1, No.7, March 2013, pp.69-73, ISSN:2319-1899 Research Paper Entitled “Problems and Prospects of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Chittoor District” Published in “Abhinav National Journal of Research in Commerce & Management”, Volume 6, Issue 10, pp.113-119, October, 2017ISSN-2277-1166 Research Paper Entitled “A Case Study on TQM for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in India” Published in Journal of Exclusive Management Science”, Volume 4, Issue 9, pp.1-6, September, 2015, IF: 2.78, ISSN 2277 -5684 Research Paper Entitled “A Case Study on Budding Inventive Trends in Market ing Products of Small-Scale Industries in India”, Published by International Journal of Creative and Innovative Research in All Studies, December 2019, Vol.2, Issue 7, ISSN: 2581-5334

Saroj Dayashankar jha

Name of Scholar: Saroj Dayashankar jha
Brief About Scholar:
Name of Institution: St. John College of Humanities and Sciences, Palghar.
Published Research Papers: DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS DETERMINING CONSUMER PERCEPTION REGARDING HEATH INSURANCE IN PALGHAR DISTRICT OF MAHATASHTRA: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Top 10 Research Grants in Environmental Sciences

 Research grants in environmental studies vary widely in terms of scope, focus areas, and funding amounts. While it’s difficult to definitively list the “top ten” grants due to their diversity and changing nature, here are ten notable grants that have historically supported environmental research:

  1. National Science Foundation (NSF) – Environmental Research and Education: NSF offers various grants supporting environmental research, covering areas like sustainability, climate change, biodiversity, and more. Their programs often focus on interdisciplinary approaches and collaborations.

  2. National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Environmental Health Sciences: NIH funds research focusing on the impacts of environmental factors on human health, including air and water quality, exposure to pollutants, and related health risks.

  3. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grants: The EPA provides grants for research on environmental issues such as pollution prevention, ecological conservation, environmental justice, and sustainable practices.

  4. National Geographic Society Grants: National Geographic supports research through various grants aimed at conservation, exploration, and understanding the interconnectedness of human and natural systems.

  5. The Nature Conservancy Grants: This organization offers grants to support research and conservation efforts focused on protecting ecosystems, wildlife, and promoting sustainable land and water use.

  6. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Grants: WWF provides grants for scientific research that contributes to conservation efforts, biodiversity protection, and sustainable development.

  7. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) Grants: Focused on tropical ecosystems, STRI offers research grants for studying biodiversity, climate change impacts, and ecosystem dynamics in tropical regions.

  8. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Environmental Conservation Grants: This foundation funds research in environmental conservation, with a focus on promoting sustainability and supporting innovative approaches.

  9. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Grants: Packard Foundation supports research and initiatives aimed at sustainable ocean and land use, biodiversity conservation, and mitigating climate change impacts.

  10. The European Commission Horizon Europe Grants: Horizon Europe provides funding for various research projects, including those addressing environmental challenges such as climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable resource management.

Funding opportunities are made available through the Collaborative Research Programme (CRP) – ICGEB Research Grants, which is a dedicated source of funding aimed at financing projects addressing original scientific problems of particular relevance for the host country and of regional interest.

Established in 1988, the programme aims to stimulate collaborative research in Member States and with the ICGEB Component laboratories, to promote training of young scientists and to facilitate the creation of appropriate research facilities. The programme provides support for research projects in basic science, human healthcare, industrial and agricultural biotechnology and bioenergy. A call for applications is launched yearly.

We are pleased to confirm that over 510 applications from across 44 Member States have been received under the 2021 call for Grants.

Type of Support

Grants are awarded to contribute to the implementation of outstanding scientific research projects. An important element of successful applications is the feasibility of the proposed project within the designated time-frame (maximum 36 months). The maximum annual contribution from ICGEB is Euro 25,000.

Funds can only be used to cover expenditures that are directly relevant to the project. This may include purchasing consumable items, scientific literature and basic standard laboratory equipment. Travel and training costs can also be covered.

Salaries of the Principal Investigators and infrastructural support (e.g., normal administrative and overhead expenses of the Institution, maintenance and rental of capital equipment, building, etc.) are not admissible and cannot be funded.

To read about the kind of ground-breaking research on infectious diseases, cancer, metabolic and genetic diseases, plant science, immunity, genetics and many biotechnology applications that are being supported by ICGEB

 Applications.Eligibility

Applicants for research grant proposals (identified as “CRPs”) should hold positions at Universities or Research Institutes in any of the ICGEB Member States.

International collaboration is an essential feature of all ICGEB grants and must be fully integrated into the project. Active collaboration with ICGEB Research Groups is welcome but not mandatory. Particular attention will be given to projects addressing issues of interest for specific geographic regions and presented by groups collaborating across more than one country.

Investigating groups do not qualify for submission of applications:if previously awarded projects have not been evaluated and satisfactorily concluded;
if the University or Research Institute of the Principal Investigator is based in Italy.

A special category of CRP-ICGEB Early Career Return Grants is intended to fund young researchers with an outstanding track record, who have spent a minimum of 2 years abroad and have recently returned to an ICGEB Member State to establish their own independent laboratories.
Applicants for Early Career Return Grants should be no more than 40 years of age at the time of application.
Applicants should have returned to an ICGEB Member State (except Italy) no more than 2 years prior to submitting the application.

Thanks to a contribution of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) within the framework of the BIOTECHNET initiative (AID n. 12098), dedicated resources are available for candidates from Ethiopia and Djibouti applying to the CRP–Research Grants Call for proposals.

These grants often support a wide range of research, including fieldwork, data analysis, policy development, and community engagement. Researchers in environmental studies can explore these opportunities to advance knowledge and contribute to addressing pressing environmental challenges.

Construction of Rural Roads and Amrit Sarovars

 Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-I) is a one-time special intervention of Government of India to provide rural connectivity by way of a single all-weather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations in the core network.

Subsequently, new intervention/verticals namely PMGSY-II, Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Areas (RCPLWEA) and PMGSY-III were added under the ambit of PMGSY for upgradation of rural roads, construction of strategically important roads in LWE Areas and for consolidation of 1,25,000 Km Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations, inter-alia, to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.

Under PMGSY-I, 99.38% of the eligible habitations have been provided all-weather road connectivity.

Under PMGSY-II, against the target of 50,000 km, 49,857 km has been sanctioned and 48,691 km has been completed.

Under RCPLWEA, 12,100 km has been sanctioned and 8,290 km has been completed.

Under PMGSY-III, against the target of 1,25,000 km, 1,07,454 km has been sanctioned and 69,507 km has been completed.

Since inception till 13.12.2023, 1,86,541 roads of 8,14,522 Km road length and 11,587 bridges have been sanctioned at the value of projects of Rs. 3,76,472.36 crore, out of which 1,77,628 roads of 7,49,363 Km road length and 8,435 bridges have been completed at an investment of Rs. 3,12,986.17 crore (including State Share).

The Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched on 24th April 2022, with an objective to conserve water for the future. The Mission aimed at developing / rejuvenating 75 Amrit Sarovars (Pond) in each district of the Country, totaling about 50,000 Amrit Sarovars in the country. Amrit Sarovar has been a visible manifestation of the actions during Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

As on 15.12.2023, a total number of 68,521 Amrit Sarovar have been constructed. State/UT-wise details of constructed Amrit Sarovar are given below:

State/UT-wise details of constructed Amrit Sarovars (as on 15.12.2023)

SI. No.

State/ UT

Constructed Amrit Sarovar

1

Andhra Pradesh

2196

2

Arunachal Pradesh

2044

3

Assam

2836

4

Bihar

2717

5

Chhattisgarh

2916

6

Goa

165

7

Gujarat

2649

8

Haryana

1732

9

Himachal Pradesh

1644

10

Jammu And Kashmir

2653

11

Jharkhand

2088

12

Karnataka

3649

13

Kerala

856

14

Madhya Pradesh

5330

15

Maharashtra

3013

16

Manipur

1160

17

Meghalaya

685

18

Mizoram

1000

19

Nagaland

266

20

Odisha

2385

21

Punjab

1415

22

Rajasthan

3000

23

Sikkim

199

24

Tamil Nadu

2325

25

Telangana

1888

26

Tripura

948

27

Uttarakhand

1281

28

Uttar Pradesh

14788

29

West Bengal

25

30

Andaman & Nicobar

247

31

The Dadra Nagar And Haveli, Daman And Diu

117

32

Ladakh

152

33

Puducherry

152

 

TOTAL

68521

MSME Green Investment and Financing for Transformation Scheme (MSE GIFT Scheme),

 Union Minister for MSME Shri Narayan Rane launched three sub-schemes under the aegis of the RAMP programme today. These are  MSME Green Investment and Financing for Transformation Scheme (MSE GIFT Scheme), MSE Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular Economy (MSE SPICE Scheme) MSE Scheme on Online Dispute Resolution for Delayed Payments.

The first scheme – The MSME Green Investment and Financing for Transformation Scheme (MSME GIFT Scheme) intends to help MSMEs adopt green technology with interest subvention and credit guarantee support.

The MSE Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular Economy (MSE SPICE Scheme) is the first ever scheme in the Government to support circular economy projects which will be done through credit subsidy and will lead to realising the dream of MSME sector towards zero emissions by 2070.

The MSE Scheme on Online Dispute Resolution for Delayed Payments is a first of its kind scheme to synergise legal support with modern IT tools and Artificial Intelligence to address the incidences of delayed payments for Micro and Small Enterprises.

The Ministry is also taking new initiatives under the existing schemes to provide enhanced support to the MSMEs. The Support for Commercialisation of IP Programme (MSME – SCIP Programme) will enable the innovators in the MSME sector to commercialize their IPR. In addition, the ZED Scheme of the Ministry has now been made completely free for women led MSMEs. The government guarantees payment of 100 percent financial support for the certification cost. These two interventions were also launched by the Union Minister .

The Ministry exchanged Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with the implementing agencies SIDBI (for MSME GIFT and MSME SPICE schemes) and with National Informatics Centre Services Inc. (for NICSI) for MSE ODR scheme.

The 2nd meeting of the National MSME Council was also chaired by Shri Narayan Rane. Addressing the participants he asked all the States / UTs to work towards promotion and development of MSME Sector so that their efforts could result in increase in income and employment in the sector and contribute towards country’s economic growth.

Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma,Union Minister of State for MSME also graced the occasion as Vice Chairperson of the National MSME Council. He reiterated the need for supporting MSMEs in becoming globally competitive and emphasised need for developing synergies between the Central and state level initiatives.

Shri SCL Das, Secretary, Ministry of MSME, while addressing the participants urged the representatives from the States/ UTs and other stakeholders to take advantage of the initiatives of the Ministry of MSMEs and ensure the benefits of the schemes are availed by the MSMEs and contribute towards success of the RAMP programme and contribute to achieving the national MSME agenda of MSME development in the country.

The Meeting was attended by the Secretaries of Central Ministries / Departments and Principal Secretaries and Nodal Officers from States / UT governments, CMDs of SIDBI and ONDC, CEO of NICSI, along with other dignitaries.

The National MSME Council has been set up by the Ministry to work as an administrative and functional body of the World Bank supported RAMP Programme to oversee inter-Central Ministerial/Departmental co-ordination, Centre State synergies and advise / monitor progress on the reforms mandated in the MSME sector.  RAMP Programme  aims at improving access to market and credit, strengthening institutions and governance at the Centre and State, improving Centre-State linkages and partnerships, addressing issues of delayed payments and greening of MSMEs. 


Electoral literacy in classrooms

 The Ministry of Education, Government of India and the Election Commission of India have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 2nd November, 2023.  This would incorporate voter education and electoral literacy formally into the school and college education system, to prepare future and new voters for greater electoral participation. One of the objectives of this MoU is to make the young citizens fully conversant with the electoral system of the country and inculcate in them the willingness to register as voters and participate in every election in a passionate, informed and ethical manner.

The MoU also provides for introduction/updation of NCERT textbooks to incorporate electoral literacy as part of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for Classes 6th to 12th, integration of voter education and electoral literacy appropriately in the curricular framework for all colleges/universities as well as that of adult education. This is to be supplemented by imparting requisite training to teachers by way of inclusion of the subject matter in teacher education course materials.

Apart from the classroom curriculum, the MoU also aims to spread awareness among students through Electoral Literacy Clubs in schools/colleges and Democracy Rooms in every senior secondary school, co-curricular activities, disseminating communication material on electoral literacy through various forms of media appropriate for school/college students, administering a pledge to vote by students, organising mock polls, EVM-VVPAT demonstrations, information about ECI mobile apps, inculcating practices of free, fair and ethical voting in student union elections in colleges/universities etc.

Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) by Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)

 The Government of India has launched the Central Sector Scheme for “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)” in the year 2020 with a total budgetary outlay of Rs.6,865 crore which aim at enabling farmers to enhance their bargaining power, leverage economies of scale, reduction in cost of production and enhancing farmers’ incomes through aggregation of their agricultural produce, thus playing a major role towards sustainable incomes.

A target of 1,100 new Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) has been allocated to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), under Ministry of Cooperation, by the Government of India for formation and promotion of FPOs in cooperative sector, through strengthening of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Credit Societies (PACS).

Against the target of 1,100 FPOs, selection and allocation of 645 blocks, for formation and promotion of FPOs, has been completed. The State-wise detail of allocation of 645 blocks across the country, is enclosed at Annexure-I. Further, selection and allocation of remaining 455 blocks is under consideration.

The Scheme has a total budget outlay of Rs.6,865.00 crore (Rs.4,496 crore for five years i.e. 2019-20 to 2023-24 with a further committed liability of Rs.2,369.00 crore for period from 2024-25 to 2027-28 towards handholding of each FPO for five years from its aggregation and formation).

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has further informed that against the target of 10,000 FPOs, 7,597 FPOs have been registered in 34 States/Union territories.

Under the scheme, funds are released to Implementing Agencies (IAs) by Central Nodal Agency (CNA) viz. Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC). So far, Rs.1,024.59 crore have been released to Implementing Agencies. The details of IA-wise/component wise status of fund released is enclosed at Annexure-II.

In order to realise the vision of ‘Sahakar Se Samriddhi’, Government of India with active participation of various States/ UTs has taken various initiatives to strengthen the cooperative sector across the country, thereby generating employment through them and contributing in the overall GDP growth of the Nation.

To increase the viability of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and diversify their business activities to make them vibrant economic entities, Model Byelaws for PACS have been prepared to enable PACS to diversify their business activities by undertaking more than 25 business activities, including dairy, fishery, floriculture, setting up godowns, procurement of foodgrains, fertilizers, seeds, LPG/CNG/Petrol/Diesel distributorship, short-term & long-term credit, custom hiring centers, common service centers, Fair Price Shops (FPS), community irrigation, Business Correspondent activities, etc.

Further, in order to strengthen PACS, project for Computerization of 63,000 functional PACS with a total financial outlay of ₹2,516 Crore has also been approved by the Government of India, which entails bringing all the functional PACS onto an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) based common national software, linking them with NABARD through State Cooperative Banks (StCBs) and District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs).

Government has also approved a proposal to set up new multi-purpose PACS or primary dairy/ fisheries cooperatives covering every Panchayat/ village in the next five years, with support of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and other National level Federations.

Ministry of Cooperation has taken various other initiatives which aim at providing cooperatives with requisite forward and backward linkages to market agri produce, obtain credit and other services at the Panchayat/ village level itself, generate multiple and stable revenue streams for them, thus making them self-reliant. A list of initiatives taken by the Ministry of Cooperation for development of Cooperative Sector is enclosed at Annexure-III.

Annexure-I

State-wise detail of allocation of 645 blocks for Formation and Promotion of FPOs

S.No.

State/UT

No. of blocks allocated

No. of Districts covered

1

Andhra Pradesh

104

20

2

Arunachal Pradesh

0

0

3

Assam

26

14

4

Bihar

100

20

5

Chhattisgarh

13

4

6

Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu

2

2

7

Gujarat

0

0

8

Haryana

1

1

9

Himachal Pradesh

0

0

10

J&K

54

12

11

Jharkhand

24

11

12

Karnataka

13

9

13

Kerala

17

8

14

Ladakh

28

2

15

Madhya Pradesh

0

0

16

Maharashtra

0

0

17

Manipur

0

0

18

Meghalaya

14

8

19

Nagaland

0

0

20

Odisha

0

0

21

Rajasthan

16

9

22

Sikkim

0

0

23

Tamil Nadu

44

19

24

Telangana

106

28

25

Tripura

0

0

26

Uttar Pradesh

24

18

27

Uttarakhand

0

0

28

West Bengal

59

12

Total

645

197

 

Annexure-II

Details of IA-wise/component wise status of fund released

 

S.No.

Implementing Agency / Component

Total Fund Released

(In Rs. Crores)

1

Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal, Manipur

8.02

2

Foundation for Development of Rural Value Chains (FDRVC)- MoRD

59.55

3

Gujarat Agro-Industries Corporation Ltd. (GAICL)

15.88

4

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

215.55

5

National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED)

111.28

6

National Cooperative Development Corporation(NCDC)

77.78

7

National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)

5.55

8

North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC)

12.65

9

Paschimbanga Agri-Marketing Cooperation Limited (PAMCL)

0.61

10

Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC)

356.72

11

Tamil Nadu-Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium (TN-SFAC)

10.62

12

Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED)

1.37

13

Uttar Pradesh Diversified Agriculture Support Project (UPDASP)

8.11

14

Watershed Development Department (WDD)- Karnataka

19.88

15

Credit Guarantee Fund released to NABARD

115.00

16

Training & workshops and National Project Management Agency (NPMA) cost

6.02
 

Grand Total

1024.59

 

Annexure-III

 

  1. Making Primary Cooperatives economically vibrant and transparent
  1. Model Bye-Laws for PACS making them multipurpose, multidimensional and transparent entities: Government, in consultation with all the stakeholders, including States/ UTs, National Level Federations, State Cooperative Banks (StCBs), District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs), etc., has prepared and circulated Model Byelaws for PACS to all the States/ UTs, which enable PACS to undertake more than 25 business activities, improve governance, transparency and accountability in their operations. Provisions have also been made to make the membership of PACS more inclusive and broad-based, giving adequate representation to women and Scheduled Castes/Schedules Tribes. Model Byelaws have been adopted by 31 States/ UTs so far.

 

  1. Strengthening of PACS through Computerization: In order to strengthen PACS, project for Computerization of 63,000 functional PACS with a total financial outlay of ₹2,516 Crore has been approved by the Government of India, which entails bringing all functional PACS in the Country onto a common ERP based national software, linking them with NABARD through StCBs and DCCBs. A total of 62,318 PACS from 28 States/ UTs have been sanctioned under the project. Software is ready and trials have already started in 5,673 PACS in 26 States/ UTs so far.

 

  1. New Multipurpose PACS/ Dairy/ Fishery Cooperatives in uncovered Panchayats: A proposal has been approved by the Government to set up new multi-purpose PACS or primary dairy/ fisheries cooperatives covering every Panchayat/ village in the next five years, with support of NABARD, NDDB, NFDB, NCDC and other National level Federations. As reported by the States/ UTs, the process for registering 9,961 new PACS/ Dairy/ Fishery cooperative societies in 24 States/ UTs is in various stages.

 

  1. World’s Largest Decentralized Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative sector: Government has approved a plan to create warehouses, custom hiring centres, primary processing units and other agri-infra for grain storage at PACS level, by converging various schemes of Government such as AIF, AMI, SMAM, PMFME, etc. This will reduce wastage of food grains and transportation costs, enable farmers to realize better prices for their produce and meet various agricultural needs at the PACS level itself. 22 States/ UTs and National level Cooperative Federations such as National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED), have identified 1,711 PACS for creation of storage capacity under the Pilot Project. At present, construction is going in 13 PACS of 13 States/ UTs under the Pilot Project.

 

  1. PACS as Common Service Centers (CSCs) for better access to e-services: MoU has been signed between Ministry of Cooperation, MeitY, NABARD and CSC e-Governance Services India Limited for providing more than 300 e-services such as banking, insurance, Aadhar enrolment/ updation, health services, PAN card and IRCTC/ Bus/ Air ticket, etc. through PACS. So far, 24,470 PACS have started providing CSC services to the rural citizens which will also result in increase in income of those PACS at the same time.

 

  1. Formation of new Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) by PACS: Government has allowed 1,100 additional FPOs to be formed by PACS with the support of NCDC, in those blocks where FPOs have not yet been formed or the blocks are not covered by any other implementing agency. This will be helpful in providing the farmers with necessary market linkage and get fair and remunerative prices for their produce.

 

  1. PACS given priority for Retail Petrol/ Diesel outlets: Government has allowed PACS to be included in the Combined Category 2 (CC2) for allotment of retail petrol/ diesel outlets. As per information received from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), a total of 228 PACS have applied online for retail petrol/ diesel outlets.

 

  1. PACS given permission to convert bulk consumer petrol pumps into retail outlets: Based on the discussions with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, guidelines have been issued to convert the existing bulk consumer licensee PACS into retail outlets for increasing the profit of PACS and generate employment opportunities in rural areas. 109 PACS from 5 States having wholesale consumer pumps have given consent for conversion into Retail Outlets, out of which 43 PACS have received Letter of Intent (LOI) from the OMCs.

 

  1. PACS eligible for LPG Distributorship for diversifying its activities: Government has now allowed PACS to apply for LPG Distributorships. This will give PACS an option to increase their economic activities and create new employment opportunities in rural areas. Two locations have already been advertised in the State of Jharkhand.

 

  1. PACS as PM Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra for improving access to generic medicines at rural level: Government is promoting PACS to operate Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras which will provide additional income source to them and provide easy access of generic medicines to rural citizens. So far, 4,289 PACS/ cooperative societies have applied online for PM Janaushadhi Kendras, out of which 2,293 PACS have been given initial approval also.

 

  1. PACS as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSK): Government is promoting PACS to operate PMKSK for ensuring easy accessibility of fertilizer & related services to farmers in the country. As per the information shared by States/ UTs, 28,648 PACS are functioning as PMKSK so far.

 

  1. Convergence of PM-KUSUM at PACS level: Farmers associated with PACS can adopt solar agricultural water pumps and install photovoltaic modules in their farms.

 

  1. PACS to carry out O&M of rural piped water supply schemes (PWS): In order to utilize the reach of PACS in rural areas, on the initiative of the Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Jal Shakti has made PACS as eligible agencies to carry out the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) of PWS in rural areas. As per information received from States/ UTs, 1,381 PACS have been identified by 12 States/ UTs to provide O&M services at Panchayat/ Village level.

 

  1. Micro-ATMs to Bank Mitra Cooperative Societies for providing doorsteps financial services: Dairy and Fisheries cooperative societies can be made Bank Mitras of DCCBs and StCBs to ensure their ease of doing business, transparency and financial inclusion, Micro-ATMs are also being given to these Bank Mitra Co-operative Societies with support from NABARD to provide ‘Door Step Financial Services’. As a pilot project, 1,723 Micro-ATMs have been distributed to Bank Mitra cooperative societies in Panchmahal and Banaskantha Districts of Gujarat.

 

  1. Rupay Kisan Credit Card to Members of Milk Cooperatives: In order to expand the reach of DCCBs/ StCBs and to provide necessary liquidity to the members of Dairy Cooperative societies, Rupay Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs) are being distributed to the members of cooperatives for providing credit at comparatively lower interest rates and enable other financial transactions. As a pilot project, 73,503 Rupay KCC have been distributed in Panchmahal and Banaskantha Districts of Gujarat.

 

  1. Formation of Fish Farmer Producer Organization (FFPO): In order to provide market linkage and providing processing facilities to the fishermen, NCDC has registered 69 FFPOs in the initial phase. Department of Fisheries, Government of India has further allocated conversion of 1000 existing fisheries cooperative societies into FFPOs to NCDC, with an approved outlay of Rs 225.50 crore.

 

  1. Strengthening the Urban and Rural Cooperative Banks
  1. UCBs have been allowed to open new branches to expand their business: UCBs can now open new branches up to 10% (maximum 5 branches) of the existing number of branches in the previous financial year without prior approval of RBI.

 

  1. UCBs have been allowed by RBI to offer doorstep services to their customers: Door step banking facility can now be provided by the UCBs. Account holders associated with these banks can now avail various banking facilities at home such as cash withdrawal, cash deposit, KYC, demand draft and life certificate for pensioners, etc.

 

  1. Cooperative banks have been allowed to make one-time settlement of outstanding loans, like Commercial Banks: Co-operative banks, through board-approved policies, can now provide process for technical write-off as well as settlement with borrowers.

 

  1. Time limit increased to achieve Priority Sector Lending (PSL) targets given to UCBs: RBI has extended the timeline for UCBs to achieve Priority Sector Lending (PSL) targets by two years i.e., up to March 31, 2026.

 

  1. A Nodal Officer designated in RBI for regular interaction with UCBs: In order to meet the long pending demand of the cooperative sector for closer coordination and focused interaction, RBI has notified a nodal officer as well.

 

  1. Individual housing loan limit more than doubled by RBI for Rural and Urban Co-operative Banks:
    1. Housing loan limit of Urban cooperative banks have now been doubled from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 60 lakh.
    2. Housing loan limit of Rural cooperative banks has been increased to two and a half times to Rs 75 lakh.

 

  1. Rural Co-operative Banks will now be able to lend to commercial real estate/ residential housing sector, thereby diversifying their business: This will not only help Rural co-operative banks to diversify their business, but benefit Housing co-operative societies also.

 

  1. License fee reduced for Cooperative Banks: License fee for onboarding Cooperative Banks to ‘Aadhaar Enabled Payment System’ (AePS) has been reduced by linking it to the number of transactions. Cooperative financial institutions will also be able to get the facility free of cost for the first three months of the pre-production phase. With this, farmers will now be able to get the facility of banking at their home with their fingerprints.

 

  1. Non-scheduled UCBs, StCBs and DCCBs notified as Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) in CGTMSE Scheme to increase the share of cooperatives in lending: The co-operative banks will now be able to take advantage of risk coverage up to 85 percent on the loans given. Also, cooperative sector enterprises will also be able to get collateral free loans from co-operative banks now.

 

  1. Notification of Scheduling norms for including Urban Co-operative Banks: UCBs that meet the ‘Financially Sound and Well Managed’ (FSWM) criteria and have maintained the minimum deposits required for classification as Tier 3 for the last two years are now eligible to be included in Schedule II of the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934 and get ‘Scheduled’ status.

 

  1. Monetary ceiling doubled by RBI for Gold Loan: RBI has doubled monetary ceiling from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs.4 lakh, for those UCBs that meet the PSL targets.

 

  1. Umbrella Organization for Urban Cooperative Banks: RBI has accorded approval to the National Federation of Urban Co-operative Banks and Credit Societies Ltd. (NAFCUB) for the formation of an Umbrella Organization (UO) for the UCB sector, which will provide necessary IT infrastructure and operation support to around 1,500 UCBs.

 

  1. Relief to Cooperative Societies in the Income Tax Act
  1. Surcharge reduced from 12 % to 7% for co-operative societies having income between Rs. 1 to 10 Cr.: This will reduce the burden of Income Tax on Cooperative Societies and more capital will be available with them to work for the benefit of their members.

 

  1. MAT reduced for cooperatives from 18.5% to 15%: With this provision, now there is parity between Cooperative Societies and Companies in this regard.

 

  1. Relief in cash transactions under section 269ST of the Income Tax Act: In order to remove difficulties in cash transactions by cooperatives under Section 269ST of IT Act, Government has issued a clarification that cash transaction of less than Rs. 2 lakhs done by a cooperative society with its distributor in a day will be considered separately, and will not be charged with income tax penalty.

 

  1. Tax cut for new manufacturing Cooperative societies: Government has decided that a flat lower tax rate of 15% will be charged, compared to an earlier rate of up to 30% plus surcharge, for new cooperatives commencing manufacturing activities by March 31, 2024. This will encourage the formation of new cooperative societies in the manufacturing sector.

 

  1. Increase in limit of Cash Deposits and Cash Loans by PACS and PCARDBs: Government has enhanced the limit for Cash Deposits and Cash Loans by PACS and Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (PCARDBs) from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2 lakh per member. This provision will facilitate their activities, increase their business and benefit members of their societies.

 

  1. Increase in the limit of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) in Cash Withdrawal: Government has increased the cash withdrawal limit of cooperative societies without deduction of tax at source from Rs.1 crore to Rs.3 crore per year. This provision will save Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) for cooperative societies, which will enhance liquidity of the cooperative society.

 

  1. Revival of Cooperative Sugar Mills
  1. Relief from Income Tax to Sugar Cooperative Mills: Government has issued a clarification that Sugar cooperative mills would not be subjected to additional income tax for paying higher sugarcane prices to farmers up to Fair and Remunerative or State Advised Price, from April, 2016 onwards.

 

  1. Resolution of decades old pending issues related to Income Tax of Sugar Cooperative Mills: Government has made a provision in its Union Budget 2023-24, wherein Sugar cooperatives have been allowed to claim as expenditure their payments to sugarcane farmers for the period prior to assessment year 2016–17, giving a relief of more than Rs.10,000 crores.

 

  1. Rs. 10,000 crore loan scheme launched for strengthening of Sugar Cooperative Mills: Government has launched a scheme through NCDC for setting up ethanol plants or cogeneration plants or for working capital or for all three purposes. Loan amount of Rs. 3,010 cr. has been sanctioned by NCDC to 24 Cooperative Sugar Mills so far.

 

  1. Preference to Cooperative Sugar Mills in purchase of ethanol: Cooperative Sugar Mills have now been put at par with private companies for ethanol procurement by Government of India under the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP).

 

  1. Reduction in GST on molasses from 28% to 5%: Government has decided to reduce the GST on molasses from 28% to 5% which will enable cooperative sugar mills to earn more profits for its members by selling molasses to distilleries with higher margins.

 

  1. Three new Multi-State Societies at the National Level
  1. New National Multi-State Cooperative Seed Society for certified seeds: Government has established a new apex multi-state cooperative seed society under the MSCS Act, 2002, namely Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) as an umbrella organization for quality seed cultivation, production and distribution under a single brand. 8,200 PACS/ cooperative societies from 27 States/ UTs have applied to become its members so far.

 

  1. New National Multi-State Cooperative Organic Society for organic farming: Government has established a new apex multi-state cooperative organic society under the MSCS Act, 2002, namely National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) as an umbrella organization to produce, distribute and market certified and authentic organic products. 2,475 PACS/ cooperative societies from 24 States/ UTs have applied to become its members so far. 6 organic products have already been launched by NCOL so far.

 

  1. New National Multi-State Cooperative Export Society for promoting exports: Government has established a new apex multi-state cooperative export society under the MSCS Act, 2002, namely National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL) as an umbrella organization to give thrust to exports from cooperative sector. 2,625 PACS/ cooperative societies from 22 States/ UTs have applied to become its members so far. Till date, NCEL has got permission to export 14.92 LMT rice to 16 countries and 50,000 MT sugar to 2 countries.

 

  1. Capacity Building in Cooperatives
  1. Establishment of the Cooperative University: Steps are being taken by Ministry of Cooperation for setting up of a National Cooperative University for Cooperative education, training, consultancy, research and development and a sustainable and quality supply of trained manpower.

 

  1. Promotion of training and awareness through National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT): By increasing its reach, NCCT has conducted 3,287 training programs and provided training to 2,01,507 participants in FY 2022-23.

 

  1. Use of Information Technology for ‘Ease of Doing Business’
  1. Computerization of the Central Registrar’s Office: Central Registrar’s office has been computerized to create a digital ecosystem for Multi-State Cooperative Societies, which will assist in processing applications and service requests in a time bound manner.

 

  1. Scheme for computerization of office of RCSs in States and Union Territories: To increase ‘Ease of doing business’ for Cooperative Societies and create a digital ecosystem for transparent paperless regulation in all States/Union Territories, a Centrally Sponsored Project for computerization of RCS Offices has been approved by the Government. Grants will be provided for purchase of hardware, development of software, etc. to the States/ UTs.

 

  1. Computerization of Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs): To strengthen the Long-term Cooperative Credit structure, the project of computerization of 1,851 units of Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs) has been approved by the Government. NABARD is the implementing agency for the project and will develop a national level software for ARDBs. Hardware, support for Digitization of legacy data, training to the employees, etc. will be provided under the project.

 

  1. Other Initiatives
  1. New National Cooperative Database for authentic and updated data repository: A database of cooperatives in the country has been prepared with the support of State Governments to facilitate stakeholders in policy making and implementation of programmes/ schemes related to cooperatives across the country. So far, data of around 7.86 lakh cooperatives has been captured in the database.

 

  1. Formulation of New National Cooperative Policy: A National level committee comprising 49 experts and stakeholders drawn from all over the Country has been constituted to formulate the New National Cooperative Policy for enabling a vibrant ecosystem to realize the vision of ‘Sahakar-se-Samriddhi’.

 

  1. Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023: Amendment has been brought in the MSCS Act, 2002 to strengthen governance, enhance transparency, increase accountability, reform electoral process and incorporate provisions of 97th Constitutional Amendment in the Multi State Cooperative Societies.

 

  1. Inclusion of Cooperatives as ‘buyers’ on GeM portal:  Government has permitted the cooperatives to register as ‘buyer’ on GeM, enabling them to procure goods and services from nearly over 67 lakh vendors to facilitate economical purchases and greater transparency. So far, 559 cooperative societies have been onboarded on GeM as buyers.

 

  1. Expansion of National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) to increase its range and depth: NCDC has launched new schemes in various sectors such as ‘Swayamshakti Sahkar’ for SHGs; ‘Deerghavadhi Krishak Sahkar’ for long term agricultural credit and ‘Dairy Sahkar’ for dairy. Total financial assistance of Rs. 41,024 Crores has been disbursed by NCDC in FY 2022-23, which is almost 20% higher than the disbursement of Rs.34,221 crore in 2021-22. Government of India has permitted NCDC to issue bonds worth ₹2000 crore with government guarantee, subject to the adherence of specified terms and conditions. Further, NCDC is setting up sub-offices in 6 North Eastern States – Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura with the objective of taking various national schemes to the cooperative societies at their doorstep.

 

  1. Financial assistance by NCDC for Deep Sea Trawlers: NCDC is providing financial assistance for projects related to deep sea trawlers in coordination with the Department of Fisheries, Government of India. NCDC has already sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 20.30 crore for purchase of 14 deep sea trawlers for the Fisheries Cooperative Societies of Maharashtra.

 

  1. Refund to Investors of Sahara Group of Societies: A portal has been launched for making payments to the genuine depositors of the cooperative societies of Sahara Group in a transparent manner. Disbursement have already started after proper identification and submission of proof of their deposits and claims.

Primary fisheries Co-operative societies

 The Government, on 15.02.2023, has approved the Plan for strengthening cooperative movement in the country and deepening its reach up to the grassroots by establishing new multipurpose PACS or primary dairy/ fishery cooperative societies in uncovered  Panchayat/ village of the country in the next five years, through convergence of various GOI schemes, including the following schemes of the Department of Fisheries, Government of India:

  1. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)- PMMSY aims to address critical gaps in fish production, productivity, quality, technology, post harvest infrastructure and management, modernization and strengthening of value chain. Under the scheme, beneficiaries are eligible for financial assistance of up to 40 % to 60% of the total project cost/unit cost.

 

  1. Fisheries & Aquaculture Infrastructure Fund (FIDF)- FIDF aims to create infrastructural facilities, both in marine and inland fisheries sector. The scheme entails construction of ice plants, development of cold storages, fish transport and cold chain network infrastructure, setting up of brood banks, development of hatcheries, fish processing units, fish feed mills/plants and development of modern fish markets. The projects under FIDF are eligible for an interest subvention of 3% per annum for development of above mentioned infrastructural facilities.

 

This plan for setting up of new primary cooperative societies, including fisheries cooperative societies is being implemented by NCDC with the support of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), National Level Cooperative Federations and State Governments.

The plan would provide small and marginal farmers, including marginal fishermen engaged in fish production, with requisite forward and backward linkages, skill development, processing & cold chain infrastructure facilities, thus enabling them to increase their incomes. By availing the benefits under the schemes identified for convergence, marginal fisherman will be able to modernize/upgrade and setup various fisheries and aquaculture related infrastructural facilities which would help them in improving their productivity.

Ethanol production in the country is 1380 crore litres

 As on 30.11.2023, the ethanol production capacity in the country is about 1380 crore litres out of which about 875 crore litres is molasses based and about 505 crore litres is grain based.

The Government of India has been implementing Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) Programme throughout the country wherein Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) sell petrol blended with ethanol. Under EBP Programme, Government has fixed the target of 20% blending of ethanol with petrol by 2025.

In order to achieve the target of 20% blending by 2025, about 1016 crore litres of ethanol is required and total requirement of ethanol including for other uses is 1350 crore litres. For this, about 1700 crore liters of ethanol producing capacity is required to be in place by 2025 considering plant operates at 80% efficiency. The Government has estimated the demand of ethanol required for 20% blending by 2025 keeping in view the growth of petrol-based vehicles in two-wheeler and passenger vehicle segments& the projected sale of Motor Spirit (MS).

Further, with a view to enhance the ethanol production capacity in the country to achieve the blending targets set under EBP Programme, the Government has notified various ethanol interest subvention schemes from July 2018 to April 2022.

Under these ethanol interest subvention schemes, Government is facilitating entrepreneurs to set up new distilleries (molasses based, grain-based and dual-feed based) or expansion of existing distilleries (molasses based, grain-based and dual-feed based) throughout the country. Interest subvention @ 6% per annum or 50% of rate of interest charged by banks/financial institutions, whichever is lower, on the loans to be extended by banks/financial institutions is being borne by the Central Government for five years including one-year moratorium.

Installation of new ethanol distilleries/expansion of existing ethanol distilleries has brought investment opportunities worth over ₹ 40,000/- crore in urban as well as rural areas.

Due to effective Government policies, the supply of ethanol to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) has increased by more than 13 times to about 502 crore litres in Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2022-23 from 38 crore litres in ESY 2013-14. The blending percentage has also increased from 1.53% in ESY 2013-14 to targeted 12% in ESY 2022-23.

Through the sale of ethanol, the cash flows for sugar mills have improved resulting in prompt payment to cane farmers. Sugar mills have cleared 98.3% of cane dues of farmers in Sugar Season (SS) 2022-23 and 99.9% of cane dues in previous SS 2021-22.

In last 10 years, sugar mills have earned revenue of more than ₹ 94,000 crores from sale of ethanol which has added to the bottom line of sugar mills.

Production of ethanol has led to proportionate reduction in the import of petrol or crude oil which has resulted in saving of foreign exchange for India. In 2022-23, with production of about 502 crore litres of ethanol, India has saved about ₹ 24,300 crores of foreign exchange and improved India’s energy security.

99.8% of ration cards seeded with Aadhaar under One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)

 At present, around 99.8% of ration cards have been seeded with Aadhaar for the rightful targeting of Public Distribution System (PDS) beneficiaries in the country. The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) plan has already been implemented by all 36 States/UTs, across the country. Since its inception around 124 Crore portability transactions have been recorded under the ONORC plan, which includes both inter-State and intra-State transactions ensuring the food security of around 80 Crore beneficiaries in the country. ONORC plan is proving to be especially beneficial to the migrant labourers, internally displaced persons (IDPs) etc. who frequently change their place of dwelling in search of temporary employment. Under the plan, the beneficiaries are empowered to lift their entitled foodgrain from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of their choice, anywhere in the country, by using their existing ration card/Aadhaar card with biometric authentication on an electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) device. ONORC also enables the family members of such migrant beneficiaries back home (in the village/hometown) to lift the part / balance foodgrains on the same ration card. ONORC has also facilitated the migrant beneficiaries/ family members to choose any FPS of their choice without being dependent on visiting only the tagged FPS in their ration cards. Such flexibility was not available earlier under the traditional PDS.  

Due to Aadhaar seeding and installation of ePoS devices at the FPSs, at present, around 97% transactions in the country are done in a transparent manner through biometric authentication by use of ePoS devices on a monthly basis.  This Department has extended the timeline given to the States/UTs, under the Notification dated 08/02/2017 (as amended from time to time) issued in exercise of Section-7 of the Aadhaar Act 2016, for completing the Aadhaar seeding of ration cards up to 31/03/2024. Until then, all States/UTs have been advised that no genuine beneficiary/household shall be deleted from the list of eligible ration cards/ beneficiaries and shall not be denied their entitled quota of foodgrains to Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) beneficiaries only for want of Aadhaar number or only on the ground of not possessing an Aadhaar number, failure of biometric authentication due to network/ connectivity/ linking issues or any other technical reasons etc.

However, till the Aadhaar is assigned to the beneficiaries, either of the eight identification documents shall be used for identification purpose i.e. (Voter ID Card, PAN Card, Passport, Driving License, Certificate of Identity with photo issued by Gazetted Officer/Tahsildar on official letter head, Address card having Name and Photo issued by Department of Posts, Kisan Photo Passbook and any other document as specified by State/UT Governments).


New Foreign Trade Policy, extension of Interest Equalization Scheme on pre and post shipment rupee export credit

 Government has taken the following export promotion initiatives:-

i New Foreign Trade Policy was launched on 31st March, 2023 and it came into effect from 1st  April, 2023.

ii Interest Equalization Scheme on pre and post shipment rupee export credit has also been  extended upto 30-06-2024 with additional allocation of Rs. 2500 crores.

iii Assistance provided through several schemes to promote exports, namely, Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) and Market Access Initiatives (MAI) Scheme. 

iv Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) Scheme to promote labour oriented sector export has been implemented since 07.03.2019.

v Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme has been implemented since 01.01.2021. With effect from 15.12.2022, uncovered sectors like pharmaceuticals, organic and inorganic chemicals and article of iron and steel has been covered under RoDTEP. Similarly, anomalies in 432 tariff lines have been addressed and the corrected rates have been implemented with effect from 16.01.2023.

vi Common Digital Platform for Certificate of Origin has been launched to facilitate trade and increase Free Trade Agreement (FTA) utilization by exporters.

vii Districts as Export Hubs initiative has been launched by identifying products with export potential in each district, addressing bottlenecks for exporting these products and supporting local exporters/manufacturers to generate employment in the district.

viii Active role of Indian missions abroad towards promoting India’s trade, tourism, technology and investment goals has been enhanced.

ix Regular monitoring of export performance with Commercial Missions abroad, Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards/ Authorities and Industry Associations and taking corrective measures from time to time.

Following measures have been taken by the Government to maximize the growth of domestic markets and to expand its reach globally;-

i.          Pradhan MantriGati Shakti

ii.         National Logistics Policy

iii.        National Industrial Corridor Development Programme

iv.        GIS enabled Land Bank- India Industrial Land Bank (IILB)

v.         Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS)

vi.        Productivity Linked Incentive (PLI)

vii.       Make In India

viii.      Startup India

ix.        One District One Product

x.         National Single Window System

A new Chapter has been introduced within the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023 that aims to promote e-Commerce exports by bringing such exporters under the ambit of various export promotion schemes of the Government. In line with the special emphasis laid in the FTP 2023 on e-commerce exports, the outreach events are being held in the districts under Districts as Export hubs initiative with focus on promoting e-commerce exports of the identified goods from the districts in collaboration with various stakeholders including the e-commerce platforms, various concerned central and state government departments such as the Department of Posts, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Banks, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Export Promotion Councils, Local Trade Associations/Chambers of Commerce, District Industries Centers, etc.